Button 031: Famous Cartoonist Jim Mitchell (Smile, Bugle)

Jim Mitchell
created "Smile," a cute and upbeat strip in the otherwise
largely cynical and dark world of underground comix. His strips
(and covers) appeared in The Bugle, three issues
of Smile and other comix. Mitchell's promising
comics career was cut short by a lengthy prison term in a Mexican
jail, reflected in this sorrowful self-portrait done as a mug
shot. Two of the his "Smile" characters peek over his
shoulder with uncommon frowns.

About the Buttons:

Pinback Jack issued
this "Famous Cartoonist Series" of self-portrait buttons
back in 1975. All of the participating cartoonists were
alive and created self-portraits specifically for this button
set. With very few exceptions, the images have not appeared elsewhere
in print. The buttons were distributed by Krupp Comic Works
and Phil Seuling. This set was originally announced as
52 buttons, and the alphabetical numbering reflects
that. However, two artists (Neal Adams and Rick Meyerowitz)
turned in their self-portraits late, after the first 52 had already
been designed. They were included in the set, but numbered 53
and 54 respectively, out of alphabetical sequence. Steve Krupp's
Curio Shoppe is now the exclusive source of the remaining limited
inventory.

All the color buttons in this set are metal
with clear celluloid covers, are 2.25 inches in diameter, and
have "safety" pinbacks. This button is listed for sale
as an individual, but we do offer the complete set as well.

Jim Mitchell
created "Smile," a cute and upbeat strip in the otherwise
largely cynical and dark world of underground comix. His strips
(and covers) appeared in The Bugle, three issues
of Smile and other comix. Mitchell's promising
comics career was cut short by a lengthy prison term in a Mexican
jail, reflected in this sorrowful self-portrait done as a mug
shot. Two of the his "Smile" characters peek over his
shoulder with uncommon frowns.

About the Buttons:

Pinback Jack issued
this "Famous Cartoonist Series" of self-portrait buttons
back in 1975. All of the participating cartoonists were
alive and created self-portraits specifically for this button
set. With very few exceptions, the images have not appeared elsewhere
in print. The buttons were distributed by Krupp Comic Works
and Phil Seuling. This set was originally announced as
52 buttons, and the alphabetical numbering reflects
that. However, two artists (Neal Adams and Rick Meyerowitz)
turned in their self-portraits late, after the first 52 had already
been designed. They were included in the set, but numbered 53
and 54 respectively, out of alphabetical sequence. Steve Krupp's
Curio Shoppe is now the exclusive source of the remaining limited
inventory.

All the color buttons in this set are metal
with clear celluloid covers, are 2.25 inches in diameter, and
have "safety" pinbacks. This button is listed for sale
as an individual, but we do offer the complete set as well.